Strange Hygiene in the 1200s | Bizarre Baths, Herbs & Medieval Habits
Welcome to Boring History for Sleep, where the strange routines of the past are told slowly and softly to help you drift off. Tonight, we turn back the centuries to explore hygiene in the 1200s—a time when clean did not always mean what we think it does today. This gentle episode explores the odd and earthy world of medieval cleanliness. You will hear about bathhouses that were feared as much as they were enjoyed, the use of rosemary and sage to freshen up, and how people tried to stay healthy in an age before soap was common and water was trusted. Whether a noblewoman rinsing her hands with rosewater, or a farmer scrubbing his feet with vinegar, every detail is told with quiet curiosity. From teeth-cleaning twigs to the fear of open pores, from sweet-smelling herbs to harsh lye soap, these stories reveal a world where staying “clean” meant something very different. Perfect for fans of bedtime history, medieval ASMR, and long-form storytelling, this episode blends weird historical facts with calm narration and no modern noise. No music, no jumps—just a slow journey through medieval hygiene habits to help you rest. Strange, soothing, and entirely human. Sleep better. Learn more. Let the weird wash over you. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to Medieval Filth 08:23 Bathing Rituals of the Sort-of Clean 17:11 The Business of Public Bathhouses 26:54 Hair Washing, Head Lice, and Herbal Goop 36:27 Tooth Powder, Chew Sticks, and Rotten Gums 45:46 Skin Care with Mercury and Mouse Fat 55:12 Clothes: Washed Monthly, Worn Daily 01:03:55 The Fragrance of the 13th Century 01:13:21 Foot Care, Fungus, and the No-Sock Life 01:22:21 Going to the Toilet, If You Must 01:30:59 Medical Hygiene: Leeches and Boiled Instruments 01:39:56 Religious Cleanliness and Symbolic Washing 01:49:33 Hygiene in the Marketplace and Workspaces 01:59:46Personal Grooming and the Social Politics of Dirt 02:10:17 Public Health, Plague, and the Fear of Filth 02:20:13 Good Night Inspired by the channel: Sleepless Historian The Boring History is your home for Boring History for Sleep — long-form, calming historical storytelling designed to help you unwind. Each video gently explores strange customs, lost inventions, medieval hygiene, ancient routines, and the odd corners of the past — always at a slow, soothing pace perfect for sleep. Whether you are a history lover, a curious insomniac, or someone who just wants a peaceful voice to fall asleep to, this channel blends documentary storytelling with the quiet rhythm of bedtime narration. New videos are added regularly. No loud intros. No hype. Just boring history, told softly. #boringhistory#historyforsleep#medievalhistory #ancienthistory#sumerians#crusades#greekmyths#historypodcast#historychannel#historyfacts#fallasleepto#sleepypodcast#thecrusades #medievalpeasants #countingsheep#worldwar1#historyreadaloud#documentaries #ancientdocumentary#booksforsleep#sleepyaudio Tonight, we explore the less appealing side of things with medieval hygiene, a time where standards of cleanliness were quite different. This episode takes us through the dirty streets and shared baths of the era, revealing some surprising historical cleanliness practices. Listen as we explore the fascinating world of boring history for sleep.
